Foot valve



L. D. HILL FOOT VALVE bet. 9, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 26, 1946 [7176712 071 l 60 1 H27]. 51m 945% L. D. HILL FOOT VALVE Oct. 9, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 26, 1946 j'zwezzzm Z 60 B 19172. 34%95 Patented Oct. 9, 1951 LSWAdS FOOT VALVE Leo D. Hill, Bryan, Ohio, assignor to The Aro Equipment Corporation, Bryan, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 26, 1946, Serial No. 665,096

9 Claims. (Cl. 103229) This invention relates to foot valves and particularly to foot valves for use in a pump for pumping materials, for example, grease, lubricating oil, or the like from a closed container or drum.

Many grease or lubricant containers are provided with pumps and meters for pumping and ,measuring the amount of lubricant delivered, on

they are all too complicated and cumbersome, or

were not 100 per cent effective.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an improved device for preventing air from passing through the meter in apparatus of the type described.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved foot valve construction for a pump for delivering liquid from a container.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved foot valve for preventing the pumping of air with the liquid delivered from a container which is compact, inexpensive and completely eifective under all conditions, including changes in the viscosity or specific gravity of liquids which may be placed in the container.

prises an air operated driving motor l6 and a pump for, fluid in the container It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved float operated lock for a foot valve of the type described, and to prevent turbulence from affecting the operation of the float valve while insuring that the float valve closely follows the liquid level in the container.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accom' panying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the container and apparatus for delivering a metered amount of fluid through a flexible hose connection;

Figure 2 is a Vertical view, partially in section, of the pump, metering valve, connections and a portion of the tank used in the apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Fgure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the foot valve shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 6;

Figure '7 is a side elevational view of the pivoted leverage mechanism shown in Fig. 3;

Figure 8 is a top view of the leverage mechanism shown in Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a side view of the leverage mechanism shown in Figure '7;

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail view of the pivot for the leverage mechanism; and

Figure 11 is a View similar to Figure 3, with the foot valve plate shown in the blocked open position.

Referring specifically to thedrawing for a detailed description of the invention, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, numeral designates generally a closed tank or container forlubricant or other nected a flexible delivery hose I 4 provided with a shut-off nozzle l5.

As best shown in Figure 2, the pump com- The air operateddriving motor l6 comprises a piston |8 reciprocable in a cylnder l9. Air pressure from a suitable source operates the air motor I6 through a valve mechanism (not shown). The piston l8 reciprocates a large connecting rod 2| which extends through packing 22 into a pressure chamber 23, a lower end 24 of the connecting rod 2| providing for pumping fluid from the pressure chamber 23. v The air pump is standard equipment and forms no part of the present inventon, it being obvious that any means for reciprocating connecting rod 2 mechanical, electrical, or manual may be utilized.

The connecting rod 2| is secured to a smaller connecting rod 25 which has a piston 26 for pumping liquid at its lower extremity. The lower connecting rod 25 passes through a packing 21 in the pressure chamber 23. A cylinder 28 for the liquid piston 25 extends downwardly in the container II and has a foot valve assembly generally indicated at 29 secured at its lower extremity by a threaded collar 3|. A partition 32 having ports 33 therein for the passage of liquid extends acrOSS the cylinder 28 below the piston 25 on its lowest down stroke position. The piston 26 is provided with a pancake Valve 34, biased toward the closed position by a spring 35. The piston has liquid passages or ports 30 therethrough and the operation of the liquid pump up to this point is well understood in the art.

Referring now to Figures 2 to 10 inclusive for a description of the novel features of the invention, the foot valve assembly 29 comprises a foot valve plate 36 which seats on a land 3! formed on the top of the collar 3|. The collar 3| is provided with ports 38 and a central boss 39 having a central opening 4| therethrough. A guide pin, generally indicated at 42 extends through the central opening ll in boss 39 and is secured to the foot valve plate 36 by a reduced portion 43 which is flattened at 44 at its upper end.

The guide pin 42 is preferably round in cross section, and is provided with a hexagonal washer 45 intermediate its ends and below the boss 39. Below the hexagonal washer 45 the pin 42 is machined to provide two conical shaped portions 46 and 4'! with a depending reduced portion 48. The conical-shaped portions thereby form outwardly sloped surfaces 49 and and horizontal shoulders 52, 53 and 54. A vertical surface 55 on the guide pin 42 is provided between the hexagonal washer 55 and the uppermost horizontal shoulder 52.

A depending skirt 49 is secured to collar 3| by rolling at 50 into an annular recess 50a, and the skirt 49 extends to within a few inches of the bottom of container I I, as shown in Figure 2. The skirt is provided at its lower end with sufficient openings 59b to permit the free flow of the liquid in the container II into an annular chamber 56 formed between the lower portion, of the skirt 4" and a cylindrical sheet metal member 51 welded to a generally S-shaped annular member 58 which is preferably welded to an intermediate portion of the skirt 40. The S-shaped member 58 provides an annular shoulder 59 disposed in a plane a short distance below the bottom 48 of the guide pin 42.

As best shown in Figures 3 and 5, the shoulder 59 is provided with a small slot 6| through which extends an arm 52 secured to a semi-circular strap 63 which is, in turn, welded to a semi-circular hollow float member 54. As shown in Figures 3, 6 and 10, a U-shaped toggle support or float lever lock 55 is preferably soldered to the shoulder 59 below the slot 5! and provides a loose pivotal support for the arm 52, strap 53 and float Ell, which may be conveniently referred to generally as a float valve mechanism 66.

The toggle su port 65 pivotally supports the float valve assembly 56 in the following manner. The arm 52 is provided with a vertically extendin ortion 61. which is the portion that extends through slot' 5! in shoulder 59, and with a portion 69 bent at anangle of about 40 from the vertical. The vertical portion 61 of arm 52 is provided with o osed cut-outs or slots 59 which engage arms H of the V-shaped float lever lock 65. The float 34. therefore, moves the bent portion 68 in an are denoted by the dotted arrow in Figure 3 when the level of liquid in the-container I l rises or falls, it being obvious that the movement of float 64 and arm 68 are closely limited by the shape of the float lever lock 55 and the size of the cutouts 69.

Vent openings 12 are provided adjacent the upper part of chamber 56 so that any air entrapped accidentally in chamber 56 may readily escape and find its way to the air space above the liquid in the container II. In Figure 3, the dot and dash line indicates one possible liquid level, and the dot and dash line in Figure .11

indicates a condition wherein the liquid level has fallen to the point where the foot valve plate 36 i blocked open.

It will also be noted that the end of angularly bent arm 68 is beveled at 13, for a purpose hereinafter described.

Operation The device described above operates in the following manner. As the air pump I6 is operated by the action of compressed air on the air piston l8, the piston I8 is reciprocated and, in turn, reciprocates large connecting rod 2|, small connecting rod 25 and fluid delivery piston 26. Assuming that the pump has been in operation, on the upstroke thereof, the pancake valve 34 on piston 26 is closed, and the fluid present above the piston 25 is forced into the pressure chamber 23 through a suitable check valve (not shown). The large end 24 of connecting rod 2 I, which also acts as a piston, is being withdrawn from pressure chamber 23 at this time, so that fluid may enter the chamber. At the same time, the foot valve plate 36 is raised by the suction produced beneath the piston 25, and fluid from the container flows into the open bottom of cylindrical member 51 and through the ports 38 in collar 3|, thus substantially filling the cylinder 28 below the piston 26.

On the down-stroke of the pump, the foot valve plate 35 is closed by the pressure of the fluid, and the valve plate 34 of piston 26 is opened against the bias of spring 35, so that the fluid in the cylinder 28 passes through the ports 39 in the piston 25. At the same time, the piston end 24 of the connecting rod 2i descends in pressure chamber 23, the check valve hereinoefore referred to is closed, and fluid under pressure is delivered to the meter I3, line I4 and nozzle 15, through a conduit 14, as shown best in Figure 2.

The fluid in the container II fills the float chamber 56 through inlets 5%, but it is to be noted that the float 64 is in a quiescent zone and is not subject to the flow or turbulence of the fluid being pumped. So long as the liquid level in the container is above a predetermined level, where there is no likelihood of air passing through the pump and meter, the float rnaintains the angular arm 58 in the position shown in Figures 2 and 3, where it cannot interfere with the operation of the foot valve 35.

As soon as the liquid drops to the level shown in Figure 11, however, the float 64 drops and pivots the angular arm 68 about the member 55, thus moving the end I3'of the arm 58'flrst into contact with the vertical surface 55 of the foot valve guide pin 42. On the next up-stroke of the pump, the end 13 of arm 68 will slide under and engage either shoulder 52, 53 or 54, depending on the viscosity of the fluid being pumped, since the heavier oils, for example, raise the foot valve plate 36 higher on each stroke of the pump than a light oil. 7 The liquid level at which the foot valve plate 39 is thus blocked is sufiiciently high to insure that no air enters the pump and passes through the meter I3.

When the foot valve plate 36 is blocked open, it will be obvious that the pumping of liquid is stopped, since the piston valve plate as is no longer lifted on the down-stroke against the force of the spring 35, and liquid is merely forced back and forth through the ports .33 in collar 3|.

Although a considerable amount of liquid is left in the container II, it is not wasted, as the container is generally refilled. When this occurs,

the float 64 is again raised and the beveled edge 13 of arm 68 readily disengages from the shoulder on the guide pin 42 and the arm 68 resumes the position shown in Figures 2 and 3, thus dropping the footvalve plate 36 onto its seat 31 and permitting normal operation of the pumping mechanism.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, manifestly it is susceptible of modification and rearrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting my invention to the precise form herein disclosed, except as I may be so limited by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A foot valve construction for a pump for delivering liquids from a container comprising a foot valve plate, a member providing a seat for said foot valve plate, a slidable support aflording reciprocating movement of said foot Valv plate to opened and closed positions with respect to said seat, means for blocking said foot valve plate in opened position and for again unblocking said foot valve plate, said means comprising a float, a pivoted leverage mechanism operated by said float, said pivoted leverage mechanism including an arm movable to a position to block said foot valve plate in the opened position when said float reaches one position and to aflord free reciprocating. movement of said foot valve plate when said float reaches another position, means for supporting and positioning said float and the leverage mechanism directly beneath said foot valve plate and substantially within the confines of the downwardly projected area of said seat member. in a float chamber below said foot valve, said chamber being substantially totally. enclosed so thatunusual disturbances in the liquid will not be transmitted in any appreciable degree to the liquid which .is

,6 and substantially within the confines of the downwardly projected area of said seat member in a float chamber below said foot valve, said chamber being bounded by two separate vertical continuous surfaces disposed one within the other, said chamber being of considerably greater cross section height than cross section width, a horizontal wall bounding the chamber at the top end, the other end of said chamber being ported to the liquid, the said pivoted leverage mechanism and float being pivoted from a point on said horizontal wall, and said float and said pivot point being laterally spaced on subin contact with said float, ports in said chamber permitting entrance of. the liquid intosaid chamber, the inner vertical bounding surface of the chamber. forming a liquid inlet passage, another of the bounding surfaces of said chamber being a horizontal wall, said pivoted leverage mechanism and float being pivoted from a point on said horizontal wall, and said float and said pivot point being laterally spaced to permit upward and downward movement of the float in an are within said float chamber and to provide arcuate movementv of said arm into and out of blocking position. a

2. A foot valve construction fora pump for delivering liquids from a container comprising a foot valve plate, amember providing a seat I for said foot valve plate, -a slidable support affording reciprocating movement of said foot valve plate to opened and closed positions with respect to said seat, means for blocking said .foot

valve plate in opened position andnfor again.

unblocking said .foot valve pdate, said. means comprising a float, a pivoted leverage mechanism operated by said float, .said pivoted leverage mechanism including an arm movable to a position to block said foot valve plate in the opened position when said float reaches one position stantially opposite sides of the axis of the inner vertical surface bounding said chamber to permit upward and downward movement of the float in an are within said float chamber and to provide arcuate movement of said arm into and out of blocking position.

3. A foot valve construction for a pump for delivering liquids from a container comprising a foot valve plate, a member providing a seat for said foot valve plate, a slidable support affording reciprocating movement of said foot valve plate to opened and closed positions with respect to said seat, means for blocking said foot valve plate in opened position and for again unblocking said foot valve plate, said means comprising a float, a pivoted leverage mechanism operated by said float, said ivoted leverage mechanism including an arm movable to a position to block said foot valve plate in theopened position when said float reaches one position and to afford free reciprocating movement of said foot valve plate when said float reaches another position, means for supporting and positioning said float and the leverage mechanism directly beneath said foot valve plate and substantially within the confines of the downwardly projected area of said seat member in a float chamber below said foot valve, said chamber being bounded by two separate vertical continuous surfaces disposed one within the other, said chamber being of considerably greater cross section height compared to cross section width, a horizontal wall bounding the chamber at the top end, the other end of said chamber being open to the liquid, said pivoted leverage mechanism and float being pivoted from a point on said horizontal wall, said float having a cross section width at least as great as its depth, and said float and said pivot point being laterally spaced on substantially opposite sides of the axis of said inner vertical surface bounding said float chamber to permit upward and downward movement of the float in an are within said float chamber.

4. A foot valve construction for a pump for delivering liquids from a container comprising a foot valve plate, a member providing a seat for the foot valve plate, a slidable support affording reciprocatingmovement of said foot valve plate to open and closed positions with res ect to said seat, an inlet passage to said foot valve disposed directly beneath said seat member, a horizontal wall extending outwardly from said inlet and supported by said seat member. a float beneath said horizontal wall and outside said inlet, a leverage mechanism operated by said float and having a portion movable when said float reaches a predetermined position to temporarily block said foot valve plate in open position, means for pivotally supporting said float and leverage mechanism from said "horizontal wall, said last means comprising a V-shaped arm "secured to said horizontal wall,- and slots in said leverage mechanism pivotally engaging said V-shaped arm, said horizontal wall having an aperture therein through which a portion of said leverage mechanism extends.

5. A foot valve construction for a pump for delivering liquids from a container comprising a foot valve plate, a member providing a seat for the foot valve plate, a slidable support affording reciprocating movement of said foot valve p ate to open and closed positions with respect to said seat, an inlet passage to said foot valve disposed directly beneath said seat member, a horizontal wall extending outwardly from said inlet and supported by said seat member, a float beneath said horizontal wall and outside said inlet, a leverage mechanism operated by said float and having a portion movable when said float reaches a predetermined position to temporarily block said foot valve plate in open position, means for pivotally supp'orting said float and leverage mechanism from said hori zontal wall, said last means comprising a V- shaped arm secured to said horizontal wall, and slots in said leverage mechanism pivotally engaging said V-shaped arm, said horizontal wall having an aperture therein through which a portion of said leverage mechanism extends, said V-shaped arms and slots limiting the movement of said float and leverage mechanism.

6. A foot valve construction for a pump for delivering liquids from a container comprising a foot valve plate, a member providing a seat for said foot valve plate, a slidable support aflording reciprocating movement of said foot valve plate to opened and closed positions with respect to said seat, means for blocking said foot valve plate in opened position and for again unblocking said a foot valve plate, said means comprising a float,

a pivoted leverage mechanism operated by said float, said pivoted leverage mechanism including an arm movable to a position to block said foot valve plate in the opened position when said float reaches one position and to afford free reciprocating movement of said foot valve plate when said float reaches another position, means for supporting and positioning said float and the leverage mechanism directly beneath said foot valve plate and substantially within the confines of the downwardly projected area of said seat member in an annular chamber below said foot valve, said annular chamber being bounded by two separate vertical continuous surfaces disposed one within the other, said annular chamber being of considerable cross section height compared to cross section width, a horizontal wall bounding the chamber at the top end, said float being positioned within an arcuate portion of said annular chamber, the other end of said chamber being open to the liquid so that a column of liquid is providedbeneath the float to prevent the transmission in any appreciable de" gree of any disturbance to the float from the rest of the liquid, said float and leverage mechanism being pivotally supported from a point on said horizontal wall, said pivot point on said horizontal wall being positioned above the remaining arcuate portion of the annular chamber, whereby the radius of the arc in which said float is permitted to move is as large as possible.

'7. A foot valve construction for a pump for delivering liquids from a container comprising a foot valve plate, a member providing a seat for said foot valve plate, a slidable support afiording reciprocating movement of said'foot valve plate to opened and closed positions with respect to said'seat, means for blocking said foot valve plate in opened position and for again unblocking said foot valve plate, said means comprising a float, a pivoted leverage mechanism operated by said float, said pivoted leverage mechanism including an arm movable to a position to block said foot valve plate in the opened position when said float reaches one position and to aiford free reciprocating movement of said foot valve plate when said float reaches another position, means for supporting and positioning said float and the leverage mechanism directly beneath said foot valve plate and substantially within the confines of the downwardly projected area of said seat member in an annular chamber below said foot valve, said annular chamber being bounded by two separate vertical cylindrical surfaces disposed one within the other, said chamber being of considerably greater cross section height compared to cross section width, a horizontal wall bounding said annular chamber at the top end, the other end of said annular chamber being open to the liquid, said float and leverage mechanism being pivotally supported from a point on said horizontal wall, said float being positioned within an arcuate portion of said annular chamber, and. said pivot point of the leverage mechanism and float being located on said horizontal wall at a position above the remaining arcuate portion of the annular chamber diametrically opposite the center of said float, whereby the radius of the arc in which said float is permitted to move is as large as possible.

8. A foot valve construction for a pump for delivering liquid from a container comprising a foot valve plate, a member providing a seat for said foot valve plate, a slidable support afiording reciprocating movement of said foot valve plate to opened and closed positions with respect to said seat, means for blocking said foot valve plate in opened position and for again unblocking said foot valve plate, said means comprising a float, a pivoted leverage mechanism operated by said float, said pivoted leverage mechanism including an arm movable to a position to block said foot valve plate in the opened position when said float reaches one position and to afford free reciprocating movement of said foot valve plate when said float reaches another position, means for supporting and positioning said float and the leverage mechanism in an annular chamber, said annular chamber being bounded by two separate vertical cylindrical surfaces disposed one within the other, a horizontal wall bounding said annular chamber at thetop end, said float and leverage mechanism being pivotally supported from a point on said horizontal wall, said float being positioned within an arcuate portion of said annular chamber, and the pivot point of said float and leverage mechanism on said hori ontal wall being positioned above the remaining arcuate portion of the annular chamber, whereby the radius of the arc in which said float is permitted to move is as large as possible.

9. A foot valve construction for a pump for delivering liouid from a con ainer comprising a foot valve plate, a member providing a seat for said foot valve plate, a slidable su port affording reci rocating movement of said foot valve late to opened and closed positions with res ect to said seat. means for blocking said foot valve plate in openedposition and for again unblock- 'ing said foot valve plate, said means comprising an arcuate float, a pivoted leverage mechanism operated by said float, said pivoted leverage mechanism including an arm movable to a position to block said foot valve plate in the opened position when said float reaches one position and to afford free reciprocating movement of said foot valve plate when said float reaches another position, means for supporting and positioning said float and the leverage mechanism in an annular chamber, said annular chamber being bounded by two separate vertical cylindrical surfaces disposed one within the other, a horizontal wall bounding said annular chamber at the top end, said float and leverage mechanism being pivotally supported from a point on said horizontal wall, said arcuate float being positioned concentrically within a portion of said annular chamber, and the pivot point of said float and leverage mechanism on said horizontal wall being positioned above the remaining aren'- 10 ate portion of the annular chamber diametrically opposite the center of said arcuate float, whereby the radius of the arc in which said float is permitted to move is as large as possible.

LEO D. HILL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 817,941 Stute Apr. 17, 1906 1,046,052 Bowser Dec. 3, 1912 1,463,129 Milton July 24, 1923 2,269,857 Nielsen Jan. 13, 1942 2,277,837 Auld Mar. 31, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 302,933 Great Britain May 30,1929 

